Lannon was born on September 30, 1914, in Winner, South Dakota.

He attended Winner High School before playing college football for Iowa.

[2] Following his sophomore year, Lannon was voted second-team All-Big Ten by the Newspaper Enterprise Association.

[4][5] Following the year he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 52nd overall pick of the 1938 NFL draft.

Early in the year, Lannon was considered a candidate for the Syracuse football line coach position.